GUNTUR: A historical discovery has come to light as a direct result of public awareness efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regarding the importance of preserving inscriptions.
A previously unknown two-copper-plate grant belonging to the Reddy rulers of the Kondavidu dynasty has been discovered in Ponnapalli village near Repalle, Guntur district, after public awareness efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) encouraged families to preserve inscriptions.
According to ASI Director (Epigraphy) K Munirathnam Reddy, the copper-plate charter, titled Copper Plate Charter from Ponnapalli, was in the custody of the family of Sri Ponnapalli Vidya Bhaskar for nearly ten generations.
The inscription is written in Sanskrit and Telugu, using the Telugu script.
The charter is dated Saka 1330, Sarvadhari, Asvayuja — equivalent to October 19, 1408 CE (Friday).
The inscription records the donation of Ponnapalli village, located on the banks of the Krishna River in Velanadu of Divisima within Trilinga-visaya, as an agrahara to the Vedic scholar Singanarya, son of Villaiyarya and grandson of Bhaskararya, a noted master of Sarpasastra.
The grant was made by Pedda Komati Vemareddi and his queen on the occasion of a solar eclipse.
The charter was composed by Srinatha, the celebrated Telugu poet and vidyadhikari (education minister) of the Reddy kingdom, giving the inscription exceptional literary and historical significance.
“The inscription states that the donee’s family excelled in Sarpasastra Veda, Vedanga, and Astanga Ayurveda, and were compared to Dhanvantari, the divine physician — highlighting their scholarly prestige in the region’s intellectual history,” the ASI noted.
The ASI said the discovery demonstrates the crucial role of community participation in unearthing and preserving historical records.
The Director (Epigraphy), ASI Mysore, appealed to the public to share any inscriptions or copper-plate grants in their possession or localitysaying such materials are vital for reconstructing India’s cultural and historical past.
The ASI emphasised that timely reporting of inscriptions ensures proper preservation, documentation, and study for future generations.